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H. W BAPPLEYE. METHOD OF AND APPARATUSTOR DRYING MATERIALS.

Patentedfiept. 1,1896.

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(No Model.)

' 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. H. W. RAPPLEYE. METHOD OF ANIZLAPPARATUS FOR DRYING MATERIALS.

No. 566,797. Patented Sept. 1, 1896.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

' H. W. RAPPLEYE. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DRYING MATERIALS.

Patented Sept. 1, 1896.

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UNITED STATES PATENT union.

IIANNIBAL IV. RAPPLEYE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DRYING MATERIALS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 566,797, dated September 1, 1896.

Application filed January 11, 1894. Serial No- 496,507. (No model.)

To (LZZ 1071,0722, it may cancer/1,:

Be it known that I, HANNIBAL W. RAP- PLEYE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Methods of and Apparatus for Drying Materials, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a method of and apparatus for drying materials through the medium of hot air. I will first refer to the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a View in side elevation, partly in section, on the line as 9:, Fig. 2, of my improved apparatus for carrying out my improved process for drying grain and other materials. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the upper portion of my apparatus and a section on the line 3 y, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end view of the same and a section on the linec 2, Fig. 1. Fig. i is a cross-section on one of the dryingcylinders used in my process and forming a part of my apparatus, and a section on the line 1 2, Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 3 a of Fig. 4.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts.

In the accompanying drawings, A A A A represent the rotary drying-cylinders, which are supported upon wheels a, supported in bearings resting upon supporting-blocks B, resting upon the floor of the building. The frame formed by the uprights and cross-beams may be walled in and floored to form inclosed chambers S for the drying-cylinders. The cylinders are mounted slightly inclined, as shown, adjoining cylinders being inclined in opposite directions. Within the cylinders,

I shown in Fig. 4, are the curved wings Ct.

The cylinders are revoluble, as will be hereinafter described. As the cylinders revolve,

' the grain or other material to be dried is carried from one end to the other by gravity, the wings a agitating the mass, so as to expose all portions of the grain to the drying action of the hot air which passes through the cylinders.

The means which I have adopted for imparting revolution to the cylinders Iwill now describe.

On the main driving-shaftof the engine or motor is the main pulley C. On the shaft 0, which extends through the lower chamber from side to side, I mount the pulley O, pulleysO and C being connected bya belt. On the same shaft 0 I mount the pulley 0 connected in like manner with pulley C near the bottom of the chamber, on the shaft of which is the bevel-gear 0 located so as to mesh with the bevel-gear G on the shaft of which is the spur-gear 0, adapted to mesh with a gear C on the lowermost drying-cylinder. Near the top of the lower chamber is the pulley O connected with a third pulley G on the shaft 0. On the shaft of the pulley C is a second pulley 0 connected with a pulley O located near the bottom of the second drying-chamber. Between pulley O and the drying-cylinder A are shaft and gear connections (substantially like those described in reference to the cylinder A) through which the rotary motion is imparted to the cylinder A.

In case I desire to use more than two dryingcylinders, the mechanism which I use for imparting motion to them is substantially like that which I have just described for revolvin g the two lower cylinders, and may be readily understood by an inspection of the drawin gs. The grain or other material to be dried is deposited in the chamber 1). (See Fig. 2.)

To one side of the platform is a conveyer of any desired construction onto which the grain is shoveled or otherwise deposited. I have shown pulleys F. and E and a connecting endless belt FF (see Fig. 1) for supporting and conveying the grain. An elevator-shaft extends from the top to the bottom of the framework, at the top of which is a pulley F and at the bottom the pulley F. An endless chain or belt passes around these pulleys, upon which is mounted an endless series of buckets P. At the end of the conveyor is a chute e, into which the grain from the conveyer is deposited, and which is so disposed near the buckets that the contents of the chute will be deposited therein as the buckets are carried up the shaft.

The pulley (3 is connected through the me dium of pulleys F F F and F with pulley F by belt connections, as illustrated. Spurgears f and f on the shafts of pulleys F and F, respectively, are set to mesh. Through these pulley, belt, and gear connections the pulley F is revolved and the elevator operated. By means of belt connection between pulleys E and F the conveyer is operated. As the buckets are elevated and pass around and over the pulley F, their contents are dumped into the chute G, at the end of which is a spout G, extending into the drying-cylinder. The contents being thus introduced into the uppermost drying-cylinder are gradually carried down through the cylinder into the discharge-spout G whence the grain is introduced into the cylinder A through which it travels in a direction opposite to that of the movement of the material in cylinder A In like manner the material is introduced into and discharged from the cylinder A and A successively, its final destination being to a conveyer for depositing it in the storage-room or bagging device.

I will now describe the means which I have adopted and illustrated for introducing hot air into the cylinders.

From the furnace R extends upwardly the hot-air stack K, terminating at some distance above the top chamber and closed by a damper K This hotair stack is lined with firebrick and is located, as may be best seen by reference to Fig. 2, to one side of the cylinders, and leading from it is the hot-air pipe K, communicating with the cylinder A at its lower end. Corresponding hot-air pipes K lead from the stackKto the lower or discharge end of each cylinder. Therefore the hot-air pipes K communicate with opposite ends of adjoining cylinders, as may be seen by an inspection of Fig. 3.

The exhaust-stack L is located on one side of the cylinders, and on the side opposite the hot-air stack. Exhaust-pipes L connect it with the upper and grain-inlet end of each cylinder. Therefore these pipes communicate with opposite ends of adjoining cylinders, or, in other words, with corresponding sides of alternate cylinders, as shown in Fig. 3.

The pulleys O connect with pulleys M, mounted on shafts which extend into the exhaust-pipe. Mounted on these shafts within the exhaust-pipe are exhaust-fans M, by means of which the air is exhausted from the drying-cylinder into the exhaust-pipe.

The hot-air pipe K has hinged to it a door 7c, which may be opened a greater or less degree to reduce to a greater or less extent the temperature of the incoming air from stack K.

It is desirable to have the temperature of the air in the upper chambers, where the initial stages of the drying process are carried on, considerably higher than the temperature of :ghe air which I introduce in the lower chamers.

By means of the hinged door or valve I can admit any desired amount of cold air to each hot-air pipe, and am thus enabled to control the heat and subject the grain in the various cylinders to the precise degree of heat required.

The air is heated in the chambers R above the furnaces N and passes, together with the products of combustion, up the stack K. The hot air which is not deflected into the hotair pipes communicating with the lower cylinders passes into the hot-air pipe K, communicating with the cylinder A Thence it passes through the cylinder, absorbing in its course much of the moisture from. the grain, and is finally exhausted by means of the exhaust-fan M into the exhaust-pipe and thence withdrawn through the exhauststack. The hot air is in like manner distributed through all the cylinders. It will be further noticed that the course of the air in each cylinder is in an opposite direction from that of the grain. The arrangement by which I effect this results in great economy in carrying out the drying process, for the following reasons: If hot air should be introduced into a cylinder at the grain-inlet, it absorbs at the start considerable moisture and is correspondingly cooled. As it continues its course through the cylinder-it absorbs a gradually-decreasing quantity of moisture and becomes correspondingly cooled, and frequently, before it is exhausted, it deposits instead of absorbs moisture, that is, it is likely to moisten somewhat, instead of dry, the drier grain at the opposite or discharge end. In other words, the action upon the grain will not necessarily be a progressively drying one, as a portion of the material may receive moisture that it has already lost.

In my apparatus the air will first pass through the comparatively dry grain at the lower end of the cylinder, and very little moisture willbe absorbed by the incoming air, most of the moisture being absorbed from the comparatively wet grain toward the opposite end of the cylinder. By this process I guard against the air containing more moisture at any time during the process than the grain through which it circulates. This process is carried out not accidentally in one cylinder, but systematically in all the cylinders. I thus obviate the necessity of redrying grain that after drying may become slightly moistened by absorption from wet air, and avoid the waste of heat thus occasioned.

Instead of completely flooring in the main chambers S, I prefer to leave a rectangular open space beneath each cylinder and build around the cylinders a suitable framework T of boards lined with tin. Thus I form a single interior chamber T, extending from the top to the bottom of my apparatus. At the by hot air.

tition is illustrated at the grain-outlet end of the cylinders for preventing the grain from being discharged by the force of the air-current. The disadvantage incident to the use of an end partition to confine the grain is that it reduces the size of the air-outlet and thus prevents a large volume of air from passin g through the cylinder. There is no danger of the air-current ejecting the, grain in the upper cylinders, for there the grain is highly saturated with moisture, and consequently very heavy. The exhaust-fans may therefore be revolved rapidly, so as to create as strong a draft as is desirable. In the lower cylinders, however, the grain is drier and consequently lighter, and hence I revolve my exhaust-fans in the lower exhaust-pipes at slower rates of speed and exhaust the air less rapidly, so that the force of the air-current will not be strong enough to carry the grain into the exhaust-pipe.

As previously stated, my process may in many cases be thoroughly carried out by the use of two or more cylinders, although I have shown four.

It is obvious that a vertical arrangement of cylinders need not be adhered to to carry out my process, as the same may be performed equally well with a horizonal arrangement of cylinders.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a drying apparatus, in combination, a series of two or more drying-chambers having openings at'opposite ends for the reception and discharge of materials to be dried and having end openings for the reception of a heating medium and exhaust-fans at the opposite ends, so connected with a source of power as to revolve at different rates of speed, substantially as described.

2. In a drying apparatus, in combination, a series of two or more drying-chambers having openings at opposite ends for the reception and discharge of materials to be dried, and having openings at the discharge ends of the cylinders for the reception of'a heating medium, and exhaust-fans at the opposite ends adapted to revolve at varying rates of speed, substantially as described.

3. In a drying apparatus, in combination, a series of two or more drying-cylinders having openings at opposite ends for the reception and discharge of materials to be dried and having openings at the discharge end for the reception of a heating medium, exhaustfans at the opposite ends adapted to revolve at varying rates of speed, and a hot-air chamber inclosing the drying-cylinders, substantially as described.

4. In a drying apparatus, in combination, a series of two or more drying-chambers having openings at opposite ends for the reception and discharge of materials to be dried and having end openings for the reception of a heating medium, and means to force a current of air at a high rate of speed through the first chamber of the series and a current of air at a lower rate of speed through the last chamber of the series, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. In a drying apparatus, in combination, a series of drying-chambers having openings at opposite ends for the reception and discharge of materials to be dried and having end openings for the reception of a heating medium, and means to force a current of air at a high rate of speed through the first chamber of the series and a current of air at a reduced rate of speed through the last chamber of the series, and currents of air at intermediate rates of speed through the intermediate cylinders of the series, substantially as andfor the purpose described.

6. In a drying apparatus, in combination, a series of two or more drying-chambers having openings at opposite ends for the reception and discharge of materials to be dried, a main hot-air pipe communicating with a source of heat, a secondary pipe leading from the main hot-air pipe to the discharge end of each cylinder, a pipe leading from the receiving end of each cylinder to an exhaust, and regulating-valves in one or more of the secondary pipes for regulating the temperature of the incoming air, substantially as described.

7. In a drying apparatus, in combination, a series of drying-chambers having openings at opposite ends for the reception and discharge of material to be dried, a main hotair pipe communicating with a source of heat, a secondary pipe leading from the main hotair pipe to the discharge end of each cylinder, a pipe leading from the receiving end of each cylinder to an exhaust, regulating-valves in one or more of the secondary pipes for regulatin g the temperature of the incoming air, and exhaust-fans at the opposite ends so connected with a source of power as to revolve at different rates of speed, substantially as described.

8. The hereinbefore-described method ofdrying materials through the medium of hot air which consists in passing the material through a series of drying-chambers and simultaneously therewith forcing a current of air at a high rate of speed through the first chamber of the series and a current of air at a low rate of speed through the last chamber of the series, substantially as and for the purpose described.

9. The hereinbefore-described method of drying materials through the medium of hot air, which consists in passing the'material through a series of drying-chambers and simultaneously therewith forcing a current of air at a high rate of speed through the first chamber of the series, and a current of air at a lower rate of speed through the last chamber of the series, and currents of air at intermediate rates of speed through the intermediate chambers of the series, substantially as and for the purpose described.

10. The hereinbefore-described method of drying materials through the medium of hot air which consists in passing the material through a series of two or more drying-chambers, and simultaneously therewith forcing a current of hot air at a high rate of speed through the first chamber of the series, and a current of air at a lower temperature and at a lower rate of speed through the last chamber of the series, substantially as and for the purpose described.

11. The hereinbefore-described method of drying materials through the medium of hot air which consists in passing the material through a series of drying-chambers, and simultaneously therewith forcing a current of hot air at a high rate of speed through the first chamber of the series, and a current-of air at a lower temperature and at a lower rate of speed through the last chamber of the series, and currents of air of medium temperature at intermediate rates of speed through the intermediate chambers of the series, substantially as and for the purpose described.

12. The hereinbefore-described method of drying materials through the medium of hot air which consists in passing the material through a series of drying-chambers and simultaneously therewith forcing a current of air at a high rate of speed through the first chamber of the series and a current of air at a.

low rate of speed through the last chamber of the series and imparting to each of said currents of air a movement constantly opposite in direction to the direction of movement of the material substantially as and for the purpose described.

13. The hereinbeforedescribed method of drying materials through the medium of hot air, which consists in passing the material through a series of drying-chambers and simultaneously therewith forcing a current of air at a high rate of speed through the first chamber of the series,and a current of air ata lower rate of speed through the last chamber of the series and currents of air at intermediate rates of speed through the intermediate chambers of the series, and imparting to each of said currents of air a movement constantly opposite in direction tothe direction of move mentof the material, substantially as and for the purpose described.

14. The hereinbefore-described method of drying materials through the medium of hot air which consists in passing the material through a series of two or more drying-chant bers and simultaneously therewith forcing a current of hot air at a high rate of speed through the first chamber of the series, and a current of air at a lower temperature, and at a lower rate of speed through the last chamber of the series,- and imparting to each of said currents of air a movement constantly opposite in direction to the direction of movement of the material, substantially as and for the purpose described.

10. The hereinbefore-described method of drying materials through the medium of hot air which consists in passing the material through a series of drying-chambers, and si multaneously therewith forcing a current of hot air at a high rate of speed through the first chamber of the series, and a current of air at a lower temperature and at a lower rate of speed through the last chamber of the series, and currents of air of medium temperature at intermediate rates of speed through the intermediate chambers ofthe series, and imparting to each of said currents of air a movement constantly opposite in direction to the direction of movement of the material,

substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony of which i nven tion I have hereunto set my hand.

HANNIBAL W. RAPPLEYE.

lVitnesses FRANK S. B'USSER, J OHN T. CARR. 

